Ten days ago I had the pleasure of visiting Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair and meeting Patrice and Laurence, a dynamic wine-making couple. I tasted their 2015's again as well as their 2016's. The big name vineyards were exceptional but I was also extremely impressed with the Fixin Clos Marion (a monopole) and Marsannay Les St Jacques. They are terrific wines with real substance that punch well above their weight. If you are looking for serious wines at a reasonable price they are well worth you consideration.
The Burgundy Report says...."Most famous for their Bonnes-Mares and their 'Clos Marion', the family business of Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair was founded about 1979 when Jean-Louis Fougeray, the father of the current owners, a man who by day worked in administration and by night tending his vines, made his very first cuvée. It was from a quarter hectare of Marsannay vines - in the family since 1972 - this was the start for Domaine Fougeray."
"That Marsannay cuvée was only 500 bottles and Jean-Louis took them all to Paris to sell. Laurence Olliver (née Fougeray) says that her father was 'born to work in the vineyard, it was his passion'. If Jean-Louis took the first steps to commercialisation, it was his father (the grandfather of Laurence and her sister Evelyne) that sowed the seeds for the size of the current operation (18 hectares); he had worked with the Clair family of the renowned Clair-Daü estate and there was a strong bond of friendship. That bond continued into the next generation with Bernard Clair and Jean-Louis Fougeray."
"For family reasons that are best left in the Clair family, in 1986 Bernard Clair was retiring and decided that he would lease some vines to his friend Jean-Louis Fougeray who was by then already exploiting 11 hectares, rather than as expected pass them to the next generation of the Clairs. Those were not just any old vines, they included a special parcel of Bonnes-Mares, some Chambolle-
Musigny and more Marsannay. In so doing, they grounded the re-named Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair - 'Beauclair' coming from a blend of Jean-Louis' wife's name and Clair."
"Day to day responsibility for the domaine now rests with Jean-Louis' daughter Laurence and her husband Patrice Olliver." -
Today we feature the domaine's unique Bonnes-Mares. Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair are the only makers to bottle a Bonnes-Mares from the Morey-St-Denis side. It is an exciting wine.
As a new addition to our portfolio we offer the Bonnes-Mares, and all of the 2015 Fougeray de Beauclair wines, at a 25% Pre Arrival Discount.
The following wine are still available (
click here to view the wines on our website):
24 bottles Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru
19 bottles Chambolle-Musigny Les Veiroilles
22 bottles Gevrey-Chambertin Les Seuvrees
15 bottles Vosne-Romanee Les Damodes
43 bottles Fixin Clos Marion Monopole
30 bottles Marsannay Les Saint-Jacques
Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair
Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2015
Normally $559.00
Special Pre Arrival Price $419.00 (Save 25%)
24 left
Darren Harris:
There is only one maker of Bonnes-Mares from the Morey side and that is Domaine Fougeray de Beauclair. They farm 1.20 hectares of the old Clair-Dau vineyard and bottle the wine without any Chambolle fruit. (The other 0.32 hectares in Morey is blended with Chambolle grapes in Bruno Clair's Bonnes-Mares). Needless to say that makes for an interesting and rare wine that few serious drinkers have had the pleasure to taste.
A powerful nose of dark fruits - blackberry, blackcurrant, cherries, violets, fresh oak. Gentle spice and a hint of marzipan. Great extract on the palate. It is structured, masculine and long. Indeed powerful, with a impressive tannin driven finish. Like all Bonnes-Mares this wine cries out for some time in the cellar. Seriously good! And did I mention rare?
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